A LITTLE can go a long way is the message from those who have benefitted from Braintree Council’s community grants.

Of the 74 good causes to receive funding, most of the grants received were £500 or less, however that small amount of funding has been put to very good use.

Great Saling Parish Council received a grant for £500 to go towards installing gate and bollards at the playing fields to secure them from traveller encampments.

Chairman Diane Greenwood said: “We are a small parish and we do not have huge resources so every little helps.

“Even though the travellers returned it was helpful at the time and we were able to do something which helped to a degree to put residents minds at rest.

“We are now working on securing other grants from other avenues to install more protection.”

Braintree District Mencap Society received a grant of £633 to go towards the creation of a new parent and toddler group.

Rachael Luckin, Mencap’s general manager, said: “It is the first thing of this kind that we have started in Braintree and it is widening our services so that we will be able to cover people of all ages.

“Without grants and donations from trusts like this it would near impossible for us to do.”